Drives

Queensland contains some of the most accessible Outback experiences Australia has to offer. We’re talking about the real deal – the true blue, fair dinkum, Aussie way to go bush. You don’t need to be an expert off-roader to explore the legendary Queensland Outback and get a taste for life on the land.

Hit the road and witness endless blue skies, burnt orange sunsets and rich red deserts as you cruise the Matilda Highway from the New South Wales border all the way to the Gulf of Carpentaria, passing through Charleville, Longreach and Winton.

If you have little ones in tow, you might prefer a shorter jaunt starting in Brisbane and venturing to the gateway to the west, aka Charleville, before trying your hand at station life in Cunnamulla and your luck at black opal mining in Lightening Ridge. Make one last stop in Goondiwindi before lopping back to the big city.

Dreaming of the ultimate 4WD adventure? Make your way from Brisbane to Birdsville. This route is packed full of opportunities to go off road, visit historic sites, stopover in outback National Parks, and soak in the eye-wateringly vast region.

Immortalised in Slim Dusty's song by the same name, Charleville is the largest town in Queensland's south west and is a hub for visitors and pastoralists alike. In the heart of 'mulga country', Charleville and surrounding pastoral properties are rich in history, flora and fauna.

Augathella, with its fascinating history of bushrangers, bullockies and bullock teams, has some memorable Outback experiences. Don’t just drive through – stop and enjoy Augathella’s colourful history, characters and humour.

Lake Paluma is an attractive lake surrounded by World Heritage Rainforest. It provides a water supply for approximately one third of the year. Access is via a 12 kilometres gravel road just past the Paluma township.

The small township of Yaraka is situated 100 kilometres away from Isisford, nestled between Mesa Hills with the backdrop being the Yang Yang Ranges that offer unique and spectacular picture post card.
The gem that Yaraka can offer to visitors is the nearby Mt Slowcombe with a tar sealed road winding its way to the top making it easily accessible even for cars.

The Mud Springs are located nine kilometres west of Eulo. The mud springs have evolved due to the underground pressure from the Great Artesian Basin, forcing mud through fissures in the ground. The mud springs are centuries old.

The Eulo Town Hole is a fantastic fishing area in South West Queensland. Head west from Eulo on the Adventure Way and cross the Paroo River Bridge. The Eulo Town Hole features nature walks and heritage trails and is a leisurely stroll from the township.

Named after Sir Samuel Blackall, the second Governor of Queensland, Blackall is located on the Matilda Highway . The district was discovered in 1846 by explorer Major Thomas Mitchell and the township was gazetted in 1868;

Wander through the Bush Tucker Garden and be educated on the regions native plants and their traditional purposes.
Situated on the banks of Lake Fred Tritton, the garden offers a quiet retreat for bird watching.

Longreach itself is the quintessential outback metropolis and a tribute to life on the land. See pastoralists wandering the streets in search of saddlery, stock feed and machinery in the large range of stores selling rural items.

Hungerford, a tiny border town located near the Paroo River on the Queensland/New South Wales border, features a large boarder gate that doubles as a Wild Dog and Dingo Fence. The town was named after Irish pioneer pastoralist Thomas Hungerford.